iOS .xliff files

File description

iOS XLIFF files are XCODE generated files, composed of one or more <file> elements. Each <file> element corresponds to an original file or source (e.g. database table). A <file> contains the source of the localizable data and, once translated, the corresponding localized data for one, and only one, locale.

Localizable data are stored in <trans-unit> elements. The <trans-unit> element holds a <source> element to store the source text, and a <target> element to store the latest translated text. The <target> elements are not mandatory.

Good to know

POEditor cannot import two languages simultaneously

There's two ways to perform an import with POEditor:
either on the language page (translations only),
or on the import page (terms and/or translations).
POEditor loads by default, on any import, the translations from the <target> tag.
The translations from the <source> tag can be loaded by checking a box in the import page, or,
if the import is performed through API, by setting a flag.

The export cannot be performed without setting a Default Reference Language on the project.
The values in the Reference Language go to the <source> tag, while the translations end up in the <target> tag.